In the steam-filled bathroom, Kimi stood under the rain shower, tension coiling in his stomach with every thought. Katherine was a no-show, and the fragile thread of their budding relationship felt like it might snap. He ran a hand through his wet hair, wondering if he had pushed too hard or if their personalities were mismatched, two rhythms destined to clash before they could truly sync. Somewhere deep down, he knew he would need to make amends, even if it meant taking the first small step toward reconciliation.

  Done with his shower, he dried off with a towel and headed for the closet. He reached for his crisp white dress shirt, fastening each button absentmindedly before slipping on a pair of charcoal Prada pants. The silver Zegna silk tie felt like an afterthought, a muted reflection of his mood. With a final glance in the mirror, he drew a steadying breath and typed out a string of messages:

  [Morning, Katherine.]

  [Guess you’re still upset with me.]

  [I’m sorry about last night.]

  [I’ll back off. It won’t happen again.]

  [I’m off to work now.]

  [Have a good day.]

  He slid the phone into his pocket, the unspoken weight of his apology pressing on him as he left, hoping she’d sense his regret, even if only through the space he vowed to give her.

  ……

  At quarter to eight, Katherine breezed into the breakfast room. Her usual warmth was tempered, her smile tight as she greeted everyone.

  Ami beamed at her arrival. “What would you like for breakfast, Little Kate?”

  Katherine hesitated, guilt pricking her conscience. “I can’t join you all today, Aunt Ami. There’s a briefing at the station.”

  Ami’s face fell, but Katherine’s heart warmed at the maternal care. “Don’t worry, Aunt Ami. Our breakfast is catered when we have morning briefings.”

  Ami nodded in understanding, letting Katherine off the hook. As the latter turned to leave, Ami’s crisp voice rang out again. “Where’s that smelly boyfriend of yours?”

  Katherine froze, taken aback. “Kimi left for work earlier,” she replied, her tone calm, though her heart prickled at the mention of him.

  Ami clucked in disapproval. “Tsk! That boy drives me nuts! He’s got peptic ulcer disease but refuses to take care of himself. He skips meals like he’s invincible. He’ll end up in the ER again if he’s not careful!”

  Katherine’s brows furrowed with concern. Did he really have to rush to work, or was he avoiding me?

  Determined to ease Ami’s mind, and perhaps her own, she promised, “I’ll text him, Aunt Ami. Don’t worry.”

  The relief on Ami’s features softened the knot in Katherine’s chest. She sent the message as she walked to her car, a small olive branch across the distance between them: [Don’t forget to eat breakfast.]

  ……

  Kimi had arrived at his nearly lifeless office at 7:15. The pressure was mounting. With three major corporate cases looming, each court date just days apart, every hour was precious. Yet the past several days had blurred with distractions, gnawing at the progress he desperately needed.

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  At 8:15, a knock broke his focus. Sergio Pedro, his PA, stepped in.

  “Good morning, Mr. Shahi.”

  Kimi lifted his gaze from his screen. “Morning, Gio. I’m up to speed on today’s agenda; no need to brief me.”

  “Yes, sir,” Sergio replied, noting the empty coffee mug on Kimi’s desk. “Mr. Shahi, I don’t think you’ve had your breakfast. Should I step out to get something before the 8:30 meeting?”

  Kimi shook his head. “No time. Forget it.” The clipped response left no room for argument.

  He added, “I’ll be working here over the weekend. I’ve diverted my calls to your phone. I’m unavailable unless it’s an emergency. They can contact me at the office number if it’s urgent.”

  “Yes, sir. Anything else I can assist with before the back-to-back meetings?”

  Kimi paused, then dismissed his assistant, “No, that’ll be all.”

  Before leaving, Sergio cast a worried glance at his boss. The shadows under Kimi’s eyes were a stark reminder of the relentless pace he maintained. Sergio knew well enough that this manic drive was unsustainable. How long before it pushed Kimi into another ER visit? He shuddered at the thought.

  ……

  FCPD, Criminal Investigations Division

  Six years ago, Katherine had powered through the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy, outpacing her cohort with relentless drive. She joined the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) after graduation, sharpening her skills on patrol before her meteoric rise to detective just months ago. Cases like sexual assault and homicide had honed her instincts, earning her a reputation as the division’s rising star.

  The CID meeting room crackled with tension: 15 open cases stacked on the table. Commander John Haynes led the briefing, his sharp voice driving the agenda, while Assistant Chief Carl Herod, head of the Investigative Services Bureau (ISB) and Haynes’s superior, sat at the table’s edge, his eyes locked on Katherine’s file.

  When her turn came, Katherine stood, shoulders squared, as she provided an update. “Good morning. There’s been a change in our approach. Initially, we planned for Ms. Shahi’s bodyguard, Ms. Wolfe, to take on Ms. Shahi’s identity, with me undercover as Ms. Wolfe. However, after discussions, the Shahis have opted to have my brother join Data Dynamics as bait. A press release will go out Monday confirming his involvement.”

  Commander Haynes’s brow creased. “Your brother? How does he fit into this case?”

  Katherine met his gaze, unwavering. “Sir, he happened to save Ms. Shahi the night of the ambush. He’s a colonel with the Special Forces, a trauma doctor, and has a PhD in computer engineering. He’s uniquely qualified to handle Ms. Shahi’s responsibilities at Data Dynamics. Ms. Wolfe, while able to disguise herself as Ms. Shahi, lacks the technical background to assume Ms. Shahi’s role convincingly. The Shahis are concerned about preserving Ms. Shahi’s professional reputation.”

  Haynes became intrigued. “Does this mean the military is involved?”

  “No, sir. He’s on six months’ leave; he joined our mission voluntarily.”

  Haynes exchanged a look with Herod, who nodded his approval. “Alright, keep us updated on any further developments. What’s your next move?”

  “I’ll continue shadowing Ms. Wolfe in case we have public appearances while following up on several leads, including the private terminal Ms. Shahi used and suspects Talon Cloche and Wendy May.”

  “Understood. Keep us posted.”

  ……

  The meeting dragged on until 11:30. Heading back to her desk, Katherine caught a splash of color in her periphery. She noticed a bouquet of papaya-colored roses nestled in a cream-colored box embossed with ‘VENUS ET FLEUR’ in metallic gold perched on her desk.

  She picked up the accompanying card and read the message:

  Dearest Katherine,

  I don’t know how to make it up to you, but I thought I’d start with these eternal roses. May they brighten your day every time you step into your office. They’re designed to last a year with minimal care. The instructions are on the back.

  Yours Truly,

  Kimi

  Katherine stared at the roses, a twinge of guilt settling over her. She remembered how she’d snapped at him—she’d totally overreacted. True, his suggestion had thrown her off, but in hindsight, it hadn’t warranted the screeching response she’d given. Kimi had only voiced his suggestions, and she had every right to reject them. Yet somehow, the gulf between them now felt deeper, regret threading through her.

  Pulling out her phone, she realized he hadn’t seen the message. A small pang hit. He was so busy he hadn’t even checked it. She sighed, slipped the phone back into her pocket, and resolved to wait for him to reach out first. Or perhaps they’d find the right words face-to-face.